Hi
I believe a very close family member has ASD. She is an incredibly loyal person and honest. She is very rigid in her opinions, gets overwhelmed when making decisions, and can confine herself to strict ways of doing things. She can come across as quite aggressive when questioned and is confrontational as she believes she is in the right. I believe her aggression is a coping mechanism. She doesn't have close friends and has not had a relationship. She gets upset and can cry or shut down, not speaking for 2 days, when I do get her to speak she cries that she doesn't know what's wrong, but only knows something is wrong. She is very distraught at times but can also change to the other extreme. It is affecting her job, and she can be aggressive to those of us around her.
She refuses to accept any possibility that she is autistic. Indeed, she may not be. I have suggested she speak to a counsellor and explain about me, that ASD is in our family, but she only see's the 'traditional' image of autism, which is not how she presents. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I could get her to understand that autism is not what she currently perceives? A video? Or easy to read book? The books on female autistics, that I have seen, are about creative, educated, well written women (bookish,quiet) and this I not like her. I ask her how I can help and she doesn't know. she is deteriorating, and so are her elderly parents who live with her.
Please do not think that I am saying she s at fault any way, i think recognising ASD in herself / getting a diagnosis would help her realise her strengths, triggers, and how to deal with her struggles.
Any suggestions on ow I could help her?
Thanks
